PHOTO BY MARC JAYSON CAYABYAB/INQUIRER.net
Minority Floor Leader Quezon Rep. Danilo Suarez on Thursday said he would propose lifting term limits of elected officials as an amendment to the 1987 Constitution.
In a press briefing, Suarez said he would propose amending the term limits of lawmakers from three years (for representatives) to four years per term.
He said even senators and president/vice president should have terms in office of four years.
Suarez added that presidents should be allowed to seek re-election. He said the number of terms is a subject for debate.
Suarez reasoned that the country has become too “politicized” from holding elections every three years.
“Politicized na tayo masyado eh. Mag-aaral ka sa first, second year, tapos third year implement, magkakampanya ka na naman. Wala na tayong ginawa kundi magkampanya every three years (We have become politicized too much. You will study during the first and second years and the implementation will be in the third year, then you will campaign again. We have been campaigning for every three years),” Suarez said.
“I think four years is acceptable. Napakaiksi ang tatlong taon at napakahaba ang anim (Three years is very short and six years is too long),” he added.
Calls to amend the Charter gained traction after President Rodrigo Duterte urged Congress to revise the Constitution to change the form of government from unitary to federal.
The bill calling for a constituent assembly (Con-ass) hurdled the constitutional amendments committee in the House of Representatives, paving the way for Charter change to be tackled on second reading at the plenary.
READ: Con-ass hurdles House Charter change committee
Duterte’s allies are calling for a Con-ass mode of Charter change, where Congress would convene to propose amendments.
This mode was met with criticisms that Charter change would be used by politicians to extend term limits and promote self-interests.
Other solons pushed for a constitutional convention, or the election of delegates who would propose amendments, but this was overturned by the mode of Con-ass supported by Duterte’s supermajority of allies. RAM/rga